After spending time on five practice squads since coming into the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2008 with only two contests on an active roster, this converted college linebacker’s combination of work ethic, persistence and physical nature has served him well in handling lead blocking duties for the Saints since 2011. While primarily a blocker, Collins has also recorded 39 receptions for 174 yards with four touchdowns in 47 games with 27 starts. Also serving as an asset on both the special teams blocking and coverage units, he’s added eight tackles. In 2013, Collins saw his most extensive action as a runner, often converting key short yardage situations, carrying 15 times for 45 yards with one touchdown. He also had 14 grabs for 54 yards and added two special teams stops.

NFL CAREER – After spending time on five practice squads since coming into the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2008 with only two contests on an active roster, this converted college linebacker’s combination of work ethic, persistence and physical nature has served him well in handling lead blocking duties for the Saints since 2011. While primarily a blocker, Collins has also recorded 39 receptions for 174 yards with four touchdowns in 47 games with 27 starts. Also serving as an asset on both the special teams blocking and coverage units, he’s added eight tackles. In 2013, Collins saw his most extensive action as a runner, often converting key short yardage situations, carrying 15 times for 45 yards with one touchdown. He also had 14 grabs for 54 yards and added two special teams stops.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed by New Orleans to a reserve/future contract, 1/13/11; Re-signed to practice squad, 9/23/10; Released from practice squad, 9/18/10; Signed to New Orleans practice squad, 9/13/10; Waived by Tennessee, 9/4/10; Signed by Tennessee Titans, 8/6/10; Waived by Cleveland, 6/15/10; Signed by Cleveland to a reserve/future contract, 1/5/10; Signed to Cleveland practice squad, 12/2/09; Released from Arizona practice squad, 11/24/09; Signed to Arizona Cardinals practice squad, 11/4/09; Released by Kansas City, 9/4/09; Signed by Kansas City Chiefs to a two-year reserve/future contract, 1/8/09; Signed to Cleveland practice squad, 12/11/08; Waived by Cleveland, 12/10/08; Signed by Cleveland Browns, 11/26/08; Released from Chicago practice squad, 11/24/08; Signed to Chicago Bears practice squad, 10/28/08; Released from Philadelphia practice squad, 10/21/08; Signed to Philadelphia practice squad, 9/3/08; Waived by Philadelphia, 9/2/08; Signed by Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent, 4/28/08

2013 – Served as the club’s lead blocker in all 16 games with nine starts, carrying 15 times for a career-high 45 yards with one touchdown, adding 14 receptions for 54 yards to tie his career-high in catches and also chipping in two special teams tackles… Tied for first in the NFL in third-and-one rushing (seven-for-seven)…Appeared in both postseason games with a start in NFC Divisional Playoff at Seattle, 1/11/14…Started and caught career-high four passes for 17 yards and also carried three times for 11 yards at Chicago, Oct. 6…Blocked for a rushing offense that gained 131 yards and averaged 5.0 yards per carry, while converting a one-yard rush into a first down and making a three-yard grab, at New England, Oct. 13…Started and carried twice for three yards with a one-yard TD and had a three-yard reception vs. San Francisco, Nov. 17…Started and recorded the highest rushing total of career on a 12-yard run at Seattle, Dec. 2...Tied career-high with two special teams tackles at St. Louis, Dec. 15…Blocked for an offense that gained 185 yards on the ground in NFC Wild Card Playoff at Philadelphia, 1/4/14. 2012 – Appeared in 15 games with seven starts at fullback. Inactive at Dallas, Dec. 23 (knee/toe). Caught 14 passes for 70 yards (5.0 avg.), with a long of 12 yards, with two touchdowns while adding two special teams tackles…Started at Carolina, Sept. 16, and blocked for a unit that finished with a season-high 163 rushing yards, including 110 for Pierre Thomas…Started vs. Kansas City, Sept. 23, and pulled in a six-yard touchdown reception. Also fell on a kickoff that he did not return at end of regulation…Started at Green Bay, Sept. 30, and recorded a season long 12-yard grab…Started vs. San Diego, Oct. 7, and helped offense accumulate 404 total net yards while also adding one special teams tackle…Made one special teams tackle, also blocking for an offense that gained 440 total net yards, 148 on the ground vs. Atlanta, Nov. 11…Started and posted two receptions for a career-high 21 yards while also blocking for a powerful running game that gained 151 yards at Oakland, Nov. 18…Posted two receptions for nine yards, including a two-yard TD, vs. San Francisco, Nov. 25…Started and recorded two receptions for nine yards at N.Y. Giants, Dec. 9…Registered a four-yard reception and blocked for a productive rushing attack that gained 149 yards vs. Tampa Bay, Dec. 16. 2011 – With only 15 touches, as he served as the club’s lead blocker in all 16 games, Collins scored four touchdowns, carrying four times for four yards with two TDs and making 11 receptions for 50 yards with two TDs…Appeared in both postseason games with one start in NFC Divisional Playoff at San Francisco, and recorded three receptions for 28 yards…Scored a touchdown on a one-yard run at Jacksonville, Oct. 2, on his first career offensive touch, helping power a running attack that gained 177 yards…On only his third career touch at Carolina, Oct. 9, scored on a one-yard TD reception…One-yard touchdown run vs. Indianapolis, Oct. 23, gave New Orleans a 28-0 lead, as he blocked for a rushing attack that ran for 236 yards, the club’s highest total since 2006…12-yard reception in overtime at Atlanta, Nov. 13, put New Orleans in position for K John Kasay’s game-winning 26-yard field goal…In regular season finale vs. Carolina, 1/1/12, caught two passes for three yards, including one TD, blocking for a rushing attack that gained 164 yards, including the club’s first individual 100-yard game of the season. 2010 – After going to training camp with Tennessee, spent 15 weeks of the regular season and one postseason week on Saints practice squad. 2009 – After going to training camp with Kansas City, spent three weeks on Arizona practice squad and final month of season on the Browns practice roster. 2008 – After going to training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles, who signed him as an undrafted free agent, spent two weeks on Cleveland Browns active roster while also enjoying stints on the practice squads of the Eagles, Chicago Bears and Browns.

COLLEGE – Played in 46 games in four years at linebacker, fullback and tight end for Washington State, totaling 80 receptions for 899 yards (9.2 avg.) and six touchdown, eight carries for 12 yards with two touchdowns as well as 42 tackles, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries…Started all 12 contests and finished with a career-high 52 catches for 512 yards and three TDs as a senior and posted 12 tackles and one fumble recovery on defense…Majored in accounting.

PERSONAL – Earned Division II Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors at linebacker for Mission Viejo (Calif.) HS…Is a licensed minister…Active in the community, Collins has visited patients at the pediatric section of Ochsner Medical Center, participated in the Rotolo’s literacy program, as well as other club events such as Hometown Huddle, the team’s annual food drive and the Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway…Jedidiah Gabriel Collins was born March 3, 1986 in San Juan Capistrano, Calif.